If you're wondering why the city of 's-Hertogenbosch seems to have a second name (Den Bosch) it's rather complicated. In common practice people often refer to 's-Hertogenbosch as Den Bosch. You may think that the longer name is probably older, but the opposite is true. Interestingly, the longer name of The Hague (Den Haag in Dutch) is 's-Gravenhage, but the city's common name is in official use, and you'll find it on traffic signs and maps. But 's-Hertogenbosch is a completely different story. It's only official name is 's-Hertogenbosch, period. Den Bosch, literally The Wood, and its alter ego 's-Hertogenbosch often cause trouble with alphabetical lists and you'll come across both city names in this guide and in the city streets. We hope this explanation has enlightened you and not confused you even more.